Lotus celebrates 75th anniversary Goodwood Revival
Call us sentimental but few places carry off nostalgia like Goodwood. Ed Hardy reveals what’s in store at 2023’s Revival
Goodwood Revival, Goodwood Motor Circuit, West Sussex, September 8-10
Goodwood is providing a spectacular rendezvous to end summer with a bang, as thousands join to celebrate the annual Revival. From celebrity faces, to vintage attires, and historic race meetings, it’s an event that never fails to impress.
It will be a weekend of anniversaries for the Revival’s 25th running. Goodwood will celebrate 100 years since the birth of legendary racer and car tuner Carroll Shelby, who won at the circuit as a driver in 1959. His impact on motor sport was huge and that will be seen across the weekend.
Various Ford GT40s will race in the Whitsun Trophy, while an assortment of AC Cobras will partake in the all-star Royal Automobile Club TT celebration. The signature tribute will celebrate many other cars raced and designed by the 1959 Le Mans winner, including the MG-TC, which Shelby drove on his debut in 1952.
The weekend will also pay homage to the great pioneer of engineering and Lotus founder Colin Chapman, on what is the famous car brand’s 75th anniversary. Goodwood will showcase 75 historic Lotus cars, including a sublime selection of Chapman’s Formula 1 machines. Among the headliners will be the Lotus 18, which gave Stirling Moss victory at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix.
But away from the anniversaries, many of the Revival’s usual attractions will return including the funfair, food and drink markets, plus the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation, which is a parade for pre-1966 aircraft. Yet, perhaps best of all is the on-track action.
The usual sumptuous array of two- and four-wheeled machines from the 1920s to ’60s will compete in the races, including this year the Rudge Whitworth Cup, which is for classic sports cars that raced at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Visitors also usually see the likes of Jenson Button and Jackie Stewart on what promises to be another great weekend. Tickets can still be bought via the Goodwood website.
RallyCross – World RX of Germany
Estering, Germany, August 19-20
Estering ends a five-year absence from the calendar to host this season’s sixth round. It will be the first time the World RX’s electric cars will have appeared at the course, so how will they compare to times of old? Johan Kristoffersson last won there in 2018, and remains the championship’s most dominant driver.
MotoGP – Austrian Grand Prix
Red Bull Ring, Austria, August 20
Ducati has been ruthless so far, with reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia leading the standings as we near the halfway mark. He won at the Red Bull Ring in ’22, but will fellow Ducati riders Jorge Martín and Marco Bezzecchi stop him to maintain their title hopes?
Formula 1 – Dutch Grand Prix
Zandvoort, Netherlands, August 25-27
F1 returns from the summer break to the homeland of its champion, where Max Verstappen could take a third consecutive victory on home turf. Expect full grandstands, orange flares and loud music, as the home crowd roars its star towards yet another championship.
Formula NÜrburgring
Nürburgring, Germany, September 9-10
Sebastian Vettel will reunite with his championship-winning RB7 to tackle the legendary Nordschleife as part of Formula Nürburgring. Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda will also face the ‘Green Hell’, as F1 cars return to the 12.9-mile circuit for the first time since Michael Schumacher’s showrun in 2013.
WEC – Fuji Six Hours
Fuji, Japan, September 10
Toyota will be searching for a sixth consecutive victory at Fuji in the season’s penultimate round. After a victorious start to 2023, the Japanese outfit could also clinch a fifth straight WEC title. Ahead is the 16-turn track known for its huge start-finish straight.
More events
Aug 12-13 BTCC – Knockhill, UK
Aug 27 IndyCar – Bommarito 500, US
Sep 1-3 F1 – Monza, Italy
Sep 7-10 WRC – Lamia, Greece